Sealing gasket



i ui) Patented Sept. 13, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE SEAIJNG GASKETJoseph D. Lewis, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application June 22, 1935, Serial No. 27,917

6 Claims. (Cl. 20-69) The invention relates to packing for closures ofthe non-sliding type and has for its object the provision of a novelsealing gasket particularly designed and adapted for use in connectionwith domestic and commercial refrigerator doors, refrigerator car doorsand the like, though its use is not so limited in that it may beemployed to equal advantage on the doors of dishwashing machines,sterilizers and in fact in numerous other locations where it is desiredto provide a definitely sealed joint.

An important object of the invention is to provide a gasket of thischaracter which may be applied with equal ease to new or alreadyexisting equipment in a very simple manner and without any necessity forusing elaborate tools and without involving making any changes oralterations in the door or other closure itself.

Another object is to provide a gasket for the above purposes which ismade of rubber and metal and which will therefore be free fromdeterioration when exposed to water or steam.

Yet another object is to provide a gasket of this type of tubular formand containing a metallic strip and which will therefore provide anadequate cushion in addition to being durable, it being moreover afeature that the construction is such as to permit unusually acutecorners.

A further object is to provide a construction of this characterembodying simple and novel securing means for fastening it in place.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, theinvention preferably consists in the details of construction and thearrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing inwhich:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation showing one corner of a refrigeratordoor or the like equipped with my novel gasket,

Figure 2 vis a cross section therethrough taken on the line 2 2 ofFigure 1, the door and frame being shown by dot and dash lines,

Figure 3 is a detail section on a larger scale taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 1 and showing the fastening means, the door being representedonly by broken lines,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the fasteners,

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing a modification,

Figure 6 is a detail cross section taken on the line @-6 of Figure 5,with the door represented by dot and dash lines,

Figure 7 is a detail cross section showing yet another variation of theinvention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view showing yet another form.

Referring more particularly to the drawing the numeral I0 designates aportion of a door of the type designed for use on refrigerators,sterilizers and the like though this ismerelyillustratlve as it ls clearthat the door might be the closure for something of an entirelydifferent nature as it is readily conceivable that the invention may beapplied or at least adapted or modified to be applied to doors, Frenchwindows and the like. It is also to be understood that my gasket may notbe mounted on the door itself but might be located about a door openingin position to be engaged by the door when it is closed.

In the first and preferred form of the invention I provide flexiblewaterproof tubing I I, preferably rubber, within which is located arigid, preferably metallic strip I2 shaped to conform rather closely tothe shape of the door, in other words suitably bent where necessary toprovide the proper cor` and it is preferable that the joint between the.

ends of the tubing be out of registration with the joint I3 as indicatedin Figure 1. The rigid strip is of less width than the internal diameterof the tubing so that a large portion of the latter will retain itscylindrical shape and therefore constitute an air cushion.

In order that the gasket may be readily fastened to a door or doorframe, I make use of a plurality of clips shown in detail in Figure 4,these clips I4 being formed as metal disks, preferably of semiclrcularshape and each formed with a tongue I5 bent over at right anglesintermediate its ends as shown at I6 so as to provide an offset endportion or tip Il. Each clip is formed with a hole I8 for the passage ofa securing screw I9. In order that these clips may be utilized forfastening the gasket in place, the metal strip and the rubber tubing areformed at intervals with registering holes and 2 I, respectively, of asize suitable for the reception of the offset portion I6 and tip I'I ofthe clips.

To effect mounting, the end portions or tips II of the respective clipsare inserted through the holes 20`and 2| and each clip is then moved toextend at right angles to the gasket and in parallel relation to theplane of the strip as shown in Figure 3, wherein it is clearly disclosedthat when the clips are in this position the offset or intermediateportions I6 thereof extend through the holes 20 and 2l with the tips I1located within the rubber tubing and overlying the metal strip. When thescrews I9 are applied it will be clear tha't the entire gasket will befirmly securedto the door or door frame as the case may be.

'I'he invention is susceptible of modification and inl"igures 5 and 6 Ihave shown a metal strip 22, corresponding to the strip I2 and similarlyenclosed within rubber tubing 23 and mounted on the door 2l by means ofan underlying foundation strip 23 to which it is secured by screws 21which pass through the foundation strip 23, through the wall of thetubing and into the strip 22. The foundation strip .26 is formed atintervals with ears 2l through which pass screws 23 corresponding to thescrews I9 and by means .of which the assembled gasket is secured inplace on the door.

In -heavy installations or in connection with heavy equipment, forexample on refrigerator car doorsI may resort to the employement ofstilldiilerent securing means as shown in Figure '1. In this instance.the foundation strip is omitted and I provide any suitable number ofscrews 33 threaded through the door 3|, through holes in the tubing 32and having reducedthreaded endsscrewed into tapped hdles in the metalstrip 3 3 enclosed within the tubing.

- A lock nut 3 4 bearingagainstV the outside. of the door may beprovided on each screw 3l to. prevent accidental unscrewing andloosening of the gasket as the result of jars caused by opening andclosing of the door or as the result of v ibration during travel of thecar.

Another mode of attachment, shown in Figure 8, which is simple and yeteffective is to employ wood or machine screws 35 passing through themetal strip and into the door of the frame as the case may be, therubber tube being formed `with holes through which the screws areinserted and which give access to a screw driver for turning the screws.The holes can be `much smaller in diameter than the screw heads as therubber may be easily stretched.

'Ihough it is not n te.. I may in some instances prefer to provide arelatively narrow strip 31 which may be applied to the door or the doorframe and which impinges against the center of the rubber tubing whenthe door is closed,.the purpose being to increase the sealing action,this being particularly desirable in case the gasket is applied to thedoor or some device within which there may be steam pressure, forinstance a washingY machine, sterilizer or the like From the foregoingdescription and a -study of Vthedrawingitwillbeapparent:thatlhavethusprovided a very simply constructed andcon-` sequently inexpensivesealing gasket which may be readily applied without diillculty and whichwill be highly'emcient, particularly as it is possible to have fairlysharp or acute corners without buckling' the rubber tubing-and for theA'fur ther reason that as rubber is waterproof the strip will not besubject to rapid deterioration as is .the case with known varities. Thetubing may havea relatively heavy-wall so as to provide a very effectualcushion which will insure a 'tight and leak-proof joint. -It is believedfrom the above that the construction and advantages will be readilyapparent to one skilled in the art withoutfurther explanation. Y

While I have shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention,it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an ex' empimuon ofthe principles involved as-the right is reserved to make such changes inthe details of construction as willwiden the field of utility andincrease the adaptability of the deenclosed therein, and securing meanspassing.

through the wall of the tube and through a hole in the strip andoverlying the inner face thereof, said securing means being adapted for'fastening upon a door or door frame whereby the rubber tube will becompressed when the door is closed.

2. A sealing gasket for a closure comprising a rubber tube, a rigidstrip located therein and of less width than the internal diameter ofthe tube to enable the latter to constitute an air cushion, and aplurality of securing elements for mounting the assembly upon a door ordoor frame, said securing elements being located at spaced intervals andextending through registering holes in the rubber tube and rigid strip,each of said securingelements having an offset tongue overlying theinner face of the metal strip.

3. A sealing gasket for a closure comprising a tube of flexiblewaterproof material, a rigid strip located therein and shaped to conformsubstantially to the contour of the closure, and means for mounting theassembly upon a door or door I frame comprising a plurality of clipslocated at intervals and secured to the door or door frame, each of saidclips having a tongue with a laterally offset intermediate portionadapted to pass through registering holes in the flexible tube and rigidstrip and having end portions overlying the inner surface of the rigidstrip.

4. A sealing gasket for interposition between coacting members,comprising a flexible tube, a rigid strip located within the tube and ofless width than the diameter thereof to enable the lying said rigidstrip.

5. A sealing gasket for interposition between coacting members,comprising a flexible tube, a rigid strip located within the tube and ofless width than the diameter thereof to enable the tube to act as an aircushion, said rigid strip and the wall of the tube adjacent the samebeing formed with registering holes, and securing means formed as aplate carried by the member against'which the tubeis disposed, .saidplate having an elongated tongue thereon with an oi!- set end extendingthrough said registering holes and overlying said rigid strip, saidregistering holes and said securing means being located at spaced.intervals.

6. Packing means for interposition between two relatively movablemembers, comprising a flexible tube. a flat rigid strip extendinglongitudinally within saidtube, and rigid means entering said tube andstrip and secured to one of said members and projecting laterally beyond

